The Orem Owlz took four out of five games in the series against the Helena Brewers, spanking Rene Gonzales' crew 10-1 in the series finale of the Pioneer League game Sunday in Orem, Utah.
The Brewers scored the only run of the season against Owlz starter Garrett Richards, but that was of little consolation when the Helena bullpen imploded in the fifth inning.
With the score tied at 1, Andre Lamontagne relieved Brewers starter Jake Odorizzi, who hurled four innings and allowed just one run on four hits, fanning four. But what was once a ballgame turned into a blowout as Lamontagne allowed six hits, seven runs (three of them earned) and had a pair of errors in one inning.
It was by far Lamontagne's worst outing of the season, as he picked up his third loss. He had not allowed more than two in an innings in any of his previous appearances this season.
Richards got the win for Orem.
Helena (5-14) improved on Saturday's offensive effort, getting six hits. Still, after five innings, it was all Orem. The Owlz (18-2) had 13 hits.
Second baseman Cutter Dykstra was 2-for-2 for the Brewers, who got the scoring started in the top of the second.
Cameron Garfield singled on a fly ball to center, then Shawn Zarraga followed with a single of his own. Dykstra then got out on a sacrifice bunt that advanced the runners, and Joey Paciorek got the lone RBI of the game on his sac groundout.
It was the second straight game in which Helena failed to get an extra-base hit.
Carlos Ramirez paced the Owlz at the plate, going 3-for-4 with the game's lone home run and his fourth of the season.
Richard Cates' RBI single to left field in the third gave the Owlz their first run of the game, the only run allowed by Odorizzi.
Orem continues to pull away with the lead in the Pioneer League South, while the Brewers can't seem to crawl out of the North basement. Helena has an off day today before returning home to host Billings at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
DIAMOND NOTE: No player in the Helena lineup Sunday has a slugging percentage above 300. However, seven of the Owlz batters top that, with first baseman Dillon Baird approaching .400.
Posted in Sports on Monday, August 24, 2009 12:00 am Updated: 10:45 am.
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